Variety of Calla Lily Plant Named &#39;Memories&#39;

ABSTRACT

‘Memories’ is a new variety of  calla  lily having inflorescences with a nearly black, dark purple colored spathe that produces 4-16 inflorescences per tuber. The inflorescence stems are about 30 cm in height, and the leaves vary between dark purple and dark green and have whitish spots with a leathery texture.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 61/964,771, filed on Jan. 14, 2014, and entitled“Varieties of Calla Lily Plants”, the entire disclosure of which isincorporated herein by reference.

BOTANICAL CLASSIFICATION

Zantedeschia sprengeri

VARIETAL DENOMINATION

‘MEMORIES’

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of callalily, botanically known as Zantedeschia sprengeri and hereinafterreferred to by the cultivar name ‘Memories’.

‘Memories’ is a product of a planned breeding program, which had theobjective of creating Zantedeschia hybrids for pot flower production ina wide range of colors with a large, classic flower shape. The breedingprogram began in 1989, and the new cultivar is a seedling selected fromthe crossing of a Zantedeschia sprengeri seedling referred to as Z020039(female parent, unpatented) with a Zantedeschia sprengeri seedlingreferred to as Z020015 (male parent, unpatented). ‘Memories’ wasselected in 2007 by the inventor in ‘t Zand, The Netherlands as oneflowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross.

The first act of asexual reproduction of ‘Memories’ by tissue culturewas performed by the inventor in September of 2007 in ‘t Zand, TheNetherlands. Subsequent asexual reproductions by tissue culture at thesame location have demonstrated that the combination of characteristicsas herein disclosed for the new cultivar are retained and reproducedtrue to type through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

The following observations, measurements and comparisons describe plantsgrown in a 14 cm pot in ‘t Zand, The Netherlands under greenhouseconditions, which approximate those generally used in horticulturalpractice. Color references are made to the R.H.S. Colour Chart of TheRoyal Horticulture Society of London, except where general color termsof ordinary significance are used.

The present invention has not been evaluated under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary with variations inenvironment without a change in the genotype of the plant.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and determined to bebasic characteristics of ‘Memories’ which, in combination, distinguishthis calla lily as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Nearly black colored spathe;

2. Dark purple-green colored leaves; and

3. High inflorescence production.

Table 1 provides similarities and differences of ‘Memories’ to itsparents, Zantedeschia sprengeri seedlings Z020039 and Z020015.

TABLE 1 ‘Memories’ Similarities Differences Z020039 White spots onleaves Spathe color Plant height Number of spathes Spathe shape Z020015Leaf shape Leaf color Plant height Spathe color Spathe shape

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographic drawings illustrate the new variety, withthe colors being as nearly true as is possible with color illustrationsof this type:

FIG. 1 is a photograph of an overhead view of a plant of the newvariety; and

FIG. 2 is a photograph of a group of multiple plants of the new variety.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

-   The plant:    -   -   Size.—Height of the leaf canopy above the soil: 10-45 cm.            Height of top of inflorescence above the soil: 12-40 cm.            Diameter: 18-48 cm.        -   Form.—Erect.        -   Number of inflorescences per tuber.—Size 14-16 cm in            diameter: 4-6 inflorescences. Size 16-18 cm in diameter:            6-11 inflorescences. Size 18-20 cm in diameter: 7-16            inflorescences.        -   Branches.—Character: Many; like the variety ‘Odessa’ (U.S.            Plant Pat. No. 18,833). Color: Between Greyed-Purple Group            RHS N186B and N186C.        -   Leaves.—Size: Width: 1.5-13 cm. Length: 7-22 cm. Number per            plant: 15-40. Shape: Sagittate. Color: Upper surface: Green            Group RHS 136B to Greyed-Purple Group RHS N186B. Lower            surface: Green Group RHS 137B to Greyed-Purple Group RHS            N186B. Margin: Undulate; having a color of Greyed-Purple            Group RHS N186B to N186C. Veins: Configuration: Pinnate.            Color: Greyed-Purple Group RHS 186B to N186C. Surface            quality: Leathery. Petiole: Length: 5-25 cm. Color: The base            is Red-Purple Group RHS 69A, and the upper part is            Greyed-Purple Group RHS N186C to 187A.        -   Roots.—Color: White. Branching: Similar to other            Zantedeschia varieties.-   The inflorescence and seeds:    -   -   Spathe.—Size: Length (measured from base opening to tip):            5-8 cm. Width: 3-6.5 cm. Height: 4-8 cm. Color: Upper            surface: Varies between Greyed-Purple Group RHS N186A and            N186B. Lower surface: Varies between Greyed-Purple Group RHS            N186A and N186B. Vein color: Between Greyed-Purple Group RHS            N186A and N186B. Shape: Cupped.        -   Spadix.—Size: Length: 35-65 mm. Diameter: 3-13 mm. Color:            Between Greyed-Purple Group RHS N186A and N186B. Position            relative to spathe: Upright.        -   Peduncle.—Size: Length: 7-32 cm. Diameter: 4-13 mm. Color:            The upper part is between Greyed-Purple Group RHS 186A to            N186B, and the lower part is Greyed-Purple Group RHS 186B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Location of female organs: Basal            position of the spadix. Location of male organs: Upper            position of the spadix. Perianth: Conspicuous. Stamens:            Presence: Not visible before pollen release. Number: More            than 20. Pollen amount: Similar to ‘Picasso’ (U.S. Plant            Pat. No 15,282). Color: Between White Group RHS 155A and            155B. Anther: Shape: Round. Length: Less than 1 mm. Color:            Between Greyed-Purple Group RHS N186A and N186B. Filament:            Length: Less than 1 mm. Color: Between Greyed-Purple Group            RHS N186A and N186B. Pistil: Number: 15 to 30. Length beyond            perianth: About 1 mm. Stigma: Shape: Round. Size: Less than            1 mm. Style: Length: Less than 1 mm. Color: Between Green            Group RHS 138C and 138D. Ovaries: Texture: Smooth. Length:            Between 1 to 10 mm. Width: Between 1 to 10 mm. Color: Top            color is between Greyed-Purple Group RHS N186A and N186B,            bottom color is from White Group RHS 155B to 157C.        -   Seeds.—Length: 4-7 mm. Width: 3-6 mm. Color: Between Purple            Group RHS N79A and N79D. Amount: Between 1-60.-   General:    -   -   Disease resistance.—No unusual susceptibility to diseases            noticed to date.        -   Pest resistance.—No unusual susceptibility to pests noticed            to date.        -   Heat tolerance.—No heat tolerance.        -   Hardiness.—Not hardy.        -   Flowering.—Tubers planted in a greenhouse in The Netherlands            in February produce inflorescences in April. Tubers planted            outdoors in The Netherlands in May produce inflorescences in            July.        -   Lastingness.—About two weeks on the plant.        -   Fragrance.—None.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of calla lily named ‘Memories’ asherein described and illustrated.